Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Demonetisation lesson: Why linking of online trading to farmers’ bank accounts must happen fastedit
Trading in almost all of Karnataka’s commodity mandis has gone online after the state adopted pioneering root-and-branch reforms in early 2014. But if progress in making payments directly into the bank accounts of farmers were as swift, the decline in business after the demonetisation of high value currency notes might have been arrested. The value of trades between November 8-16 fell by 35% to R414 crore in 152 of the state’s 158 mandis that have gone electronic. Their turnover between November 1-8, before demonetisation was announced, was R633 crore. Moreover, an analysis shows that the number of lots traded fell 34% from 74,619 to 48,892, and traded volumes declined 38% from 137 lakh quintals to 85.1 ...
15,000 agri workers in Uttarakhand set to return to UP, Bihar vilagesedit
“Ab hum apne gaon vapas jaa rahe hai,” says Ram Avtar as his eyes wander over swathes of barren land in front of him. The 45-year-old who hails from Shahjahanpur in UP has spent the past eight years in Udham Singh Nagar working as an agricultural labourer. But now, with barely any work following the demonetisation declaration, he says he has had enough. His wife has already packed their clothes and a handful of their belongings into a small bundle. The few notes of Rs 100 he has managed to borrow from his employer in Jafarpur village will buy him the tickets home.
India’s Crop Yields Lower Than US, Europe And China, Says Governmentedit
India’s crop yields are lower than those in the US, Europe and China and the government is implementing several schemes to address this issue, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today. He however noted that the low crop yields cannot be attributed to “non-availability” of improved technologies but several factors including short growing season, varied agro-climatic conditions and weather extremities. “The productivity of various crops and legumes in the country is less as compared to that of some countries in Europe, the US and China,” Mr Singh said during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha.
Rabi sowing ops not affected due to demonetisation: Governmentedit
Sowing of rabi crops like wheat, pulses and oilseeds has not been affected due to banning of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said, ruing that politics is being played in the name of farmers. “The decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes was taken to curb blackmoney and corruption. This is going to directly benefit farmers and poor people. This decision is being opposed saying it is affecting farmers and would impact rabi sowing. But the truth is the move is being opposed for personal interest,” Singh said in a statement.
Wheat slips on adequate supplyedit
Wheat prices drifted lower by Rs 20 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on ample stocks position against easing demand from flour mills at prevailing levels. However, other grains remained flat in thin trade. Traders said besides easing demand from flour mills at existing levels, adequate stocks position on improved supplies amid government’s measures to check rising prices mainly led to decline in wheat prices.
Importance of Crop rotation in agricultureedit
Crop rotation is one of the oldest and most effective cultural control strategies. It means the planned order of specific crops planted on the same field, it also means that the succeeding crop belongs to different family than the previous crop. The rotation may vary from 2 or 3 year or longer period. The main objective is to get maximum profit from least investment without impairing the soil fertility. Soil is the base for crop plant growth and development. Successful crop husbandry depends on the choice of right crop in the right soil. In deciding sequence of crops in a rotation, soil types, fertility and its health, crop rooting habit, inputs availability and their prices, agro-climatic and ...
Land ceiling for purchase of tractors by farmers abolishededit
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced abolition of land ceiling for purchase of tractors by farmers under subsidised scheme. Launching the State level Welfare Scheme for Women, registered with Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board at function at Khad village in Una district, Chief Minister also announced another scheme of paying one- time tax for purchase of tractor for agricultural purpose by the farmers.
‘Demonetisation move is not anti-farmers’edit
Agronomist plays key role in raising crop yield: Swaminathanedit
Expressing concern over lower crop yields, renowned farm scientist M S Swaminathan today emphasised the role of “agronomist” in realising higher farm productivity through better agronomic management practice. He also called upon farm scientists to recommend real time solutions to the farming community.
Agricultural growth rate pegged at 10.4%edit
Participating at the 76th annual conference of the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics (ISAE) at the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) campus here on Monday, member of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Ayog Dr Ramesh Chand said that the country requires an annual growth rate of 10.4 percent in agriculture to double the income of farmers by the year 2022, as per the directive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Financial aid for farming clustersedit
The Agriculture Department will select 18 productive farming clusters from the district this month and give them financial aid of up to Rs.3 lakh each to explore newer marketing opportunities. Under the new promotional programme, the Agriculture Department also has plans to offer free trips for farmers to various model farming destinations. Increasing the number of current clusters too is under consideration. Those not familiar with latest roof-top farming techniques, effective irrigation and fertilisation methods will be given an opportunity to learn directly from expert farmers and scientists.
NIFTEM vice-chancellor in favour of corporatisation of farming sectoredit
At a summit titled International Food Innovation 2016: Doubling Farmers Income Through Science, Technology and Innovation (organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce), Ajit Kumar, vice-chancellor, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), pitched for the corporatisation of the farming sector to integrate agriculture and farmers with prosperity and well-being, as that could be the single mantra to double their income as is being intended by the Narendra Modi government.
Agricultural sector comes to a standstilledit
A large section of agriculture farmers and labourers in the north coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam have been severely affected for the worse by the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. November is the end of Kharif season and beginning of Rabi season. General secretary of AP Tenant Farmers’ Welfare Association, M Balaram said, “The demonetisation drive has hampered agriculture activity across the state. Farmers use hard cash to buy seeds, fertiliser, farm equipment and other agricultural products apart from paying the labourers and traders. The commission agents too pay the farmers in cash.”
Young Farmers invest in innovative technology at Agro Tech 2016edit
Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy and it cannot function effectively and efficiently without a fairly steady agricultural development. The same resonated at this year’s CII Agro Tech 2016 where latest technologies were displayed and launched in a bid to boost the agriculture sector in the country. The young farmers invested in technological innovations, seeking solace from the mundane agricultural processes at the fest. Succha Dyal, a farmer from Gurdaspur said, “CII Agro Tech 2016 provides a platform for farmers to pick and choose from a wide array of farm equipment related to the health of the soil, choice of crops to be grown and dairy farm management in the advent of latest ...
TN builds credit mechanism for fund-starved farmersedit
Stepping in to address the severe cash crunch due to demonetisation that has crippled farming in Tamil Nadu during this crucial Samba crop season, the State government directed the district central cooperative banks (DCCBs) to disburse agriculture loans to farmers attached to the primacy agricultural cooperative credit societies (PACCS) under each of them. For this, a new KYC compliant account will be opened at the DCCBs for each loanee farmer.